Environmental management problems, future generations and social decisions

The decisions of many individuals and social groups, taking according to well-defined objectives, are causing serious social and environmental problems, in spite of following the dictates of economic rationality. There are many examples of serious problems for which there are not yet appropriate solutions, such as management of scarce natural resources including aquifer water or the distribution of space among incompatible uses. In order to solve these problems, the paper first characterizes the resources and goods involved from an economic perspective. Then, for each case, the paper notes that there is a serious divergence between individual and collective interests and, where possible, it designs the procedure for solving the conflict of interests. With this procedure, the real opportunities for the application of economic theory are shown, and especially the theory on collective goods and externalities. The limitations of conventional economic analysis are shown and the opportunity to correct the shortfalls is examined. Many environmental problems, such as climate change, have an impact on different generations that do not participate in present decisions. The paper shows that for these cases, the solutions suggested by economic theory are not valid. Furthermore, conventional methods of economic valuation (which usually help decision-makers) are unable to account for the existence of different generations and tend to obviate long-term impacts. The paper analyzes how economic valuation methods could account for the costs and benefits enjoyed by present and future generations. The paper studies an appropriate consideration of preferences for future consumption and the incorporation of sustainability as a requirement in social decisions, which implies not only more efficiency but also a fairer distribution between generations than the one implied by conventional economic analysis.

Indicators and evaluation tools for the assessment of urban sustainability

This paper attempts to provide an explanation of why reductionistic approaches are not adequate to tackle the urban sustainability issue in a consistent way. Concepts such as urban environmental carrying capacity and ecological footprint are discussed. Multicriteria evaluation is proposed as a general multidimensional framework for the assessment of urban sustainability. This paper deals with the following main topics: 1) definition of the concept of urban sustainability 2) discussion of relevant sustainability indicators 3) multicriteria evaluation as a framework for the assessment of urban sustainability 4) an illustrative example.

Economic growth and atmospheric pollution in Spain: discussing the environmental Kuznets curve by hypothesis

The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis posits an inverted U relationship between environmental pressure and per capita income. Recent research has examined this hypothesis for different pollutants in different countries. Despite certain empirical evidence shows that some environmental pressures have diminished in developed countries, the hypothesis could not be generalized to the global relationship between economy and environment at all. In this article we contribute to this debate analyzing the trends of annual emission flux of six atmospheric pollutants in Spain. The study presents evidence that there is not any correlation between higher income level and smaller emissions, except for SO2 whose evolution might be compatible with the EKC hypothesis. The authors argue that the relationship between income level and diverse types of emissions depends on many factors. Thus it cannot be thought that economic growth, by itself, will solve environmental problems.

Empiricism in ecological economics: a perspective from complex systems theory

Economies are open complex adaptive systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium, and neo-classical environmental economics seems not to be the best way to describe the behaviour of such systems. Standard econometric analysis (i.e. time series) takes a deterministic and predictive approach, which encourages the search for predictive policy to ‘correct’ environmental problems. Rather, it seems that, because of the characteristics of economic systems, an ex-post analysis is more appropriate, which describes the emergence of such systems’ properties, and which sees policy as a social steering mechanism. With this background, some of the recent empirical work published in the field of ecological economics that follows the approach defended here is presented. Finally, the conclusion is reached that a predictive use of econometrics (i.e. time series analysis) in ecological economics should be limited to cases in which uncertainty decreases, which is not the normal situation when analysing the evolution of economic systems. However, that does not mean we should not use empirical analysis. On the contrary, this is to be encouraged, but from a structural and ex-post point of view.

The biophysical perspective of a middle income economy: material flows in Mexico

We analyse natural resource use dynamics in the Mexican economy during the last three decades. Despite low and uneven economic growth, the extraction and use of materials in the Mexican economy has continuously increased during the last 30 years. In this period, population growth rather than economic growth was the main driving force for biophysical growth. In addition, fundamental changes have taken place in the primary sectors, in manufacturing, and in household consumption and these are reflected in an increasing emphasis on the use of fossil fuels and construction materials. Mexico’s economy has been strongly influenced by international trade since the country commenced competing in international markets. In the 1970s, Mexico mainly exported primary resources. This pattern has changed and manufactured goods now have a much greater importance due to a boom in assembling industries. In contrast with other Latin American countries, Mexico has achieved a diversification of production, moving towards technology-intensive products and a better mix in its export portfolio. However, crude oil exports still represent the single most important export good. Mexico’s material consumption is still well below the OECD average but is growing fast and the current resource use patterns may well present serious social and environmental problems to the medium and long term sustainability of Mexico’s economy and community. Information on natural resource use and resource productivity could provide valuable guidance for economic policy planning in Mexico.

Els agrocombustibles a Catalunya : proposta d'avaluació d'escenaris de futur

En els darrers temps el debat dels agrocombustibles s’ha caracteritzat per l’aparició d’incerteses científiques i la discussió dels impactes ambientals i socioeconòmics, sovint difícils de mesurar i quantificar, que es podrien derivar de la implementació de la política pública d’impuls d’aquesta nova font energètica. Els sistemes tradicionals d’avaluació experta i les eines de decisió polítiques es veuen limitats per trobar solucions als problemes ambientals complexes com és el dels agrocombustibles, ja que es basen en el coneixement disciplinari i la previsió, sense considerar de forma explícita les incerteses. En l’estudi del debat i del procés d’elaboració de la política pública s’ha percebut una manca d’espais de comunicació i presa de decisions estructurats i integradors. Davant d’aquest context, en aquest treball s’ha dissenyat un procés participatiu d’avaluació de la implementació de la política pública. La proposta elaborada consta d’uns escenaris de futur sobre l’aplicació dels agrocombustibles a Catalunya, que han de ser valorats de forma participativa en grups de discussió. La identificació de les variables determinants i els nous escenaris de futur que resulten del procés, esdevindrien la informació per a reiniciar un nou procés d’avaluació. L’aplicació de nous procediments i noves eines d’anàlisi pot ser útil per reestructurar el problema i fonamentar les decisions polítiques, per tal d’augmentar-ne l’eficàcia,la legitimitat, i assegurar-ne criteris social i ambientalment justos.

Medi ambient i equitat : la perspectiva del gènere

L'article transcriu el que va ser una sessió del seminari 'Medi ambient, trajectòries de vida i interdisciplinarietat'. Nous reptes en geografia del gènere, inserit en el programa de tercer cicle en geografia humana de la UAB, corresponent al curs 1991-1992. S'hi presenta una àmplia panoràmica d'un enfocament de gènere per a l'anàlisi dels problemes del medi ambient; això es concreta, d'una banda, en la presentació d'un esbós de la situació de les dones en relació el medi ambient; diferenciant, segons les seves especificitats d'índole diversa, entre països desenvolupats i subdesenvolupats, i, d'altra banda, en un intent de sistematització de les línies de recerca i acció que són impulsades per les estudioses i les activistes en matèria de medi ambient i gènere

Una apuesta por el equilibrio : problemas medioambientales de Japón en la obra de Hayao Miyazaki

El medioambiente ha ganado en las últimas décadas más atención por parte las organizaciones internacionales y de los gobiernos. El abuso o mal uso de los recursos del planeta lo están poniendo en peligro. El aire y el agua se agotan, los bosques se reducen y muchas especies animales se están extinguiendo por la caza, la pesca y la destrucción de hábitat naturales. Además de organismos oficiales, la población también está preocupada y son muchos los que levantan la voz y aportan su grano de arena para luchar contra el cambio climático y los problemas medioambientales. Hayao Miyazaki, director de cine y dibujante japonés, incluye en la mayoría de sus películas el reflejo de lo que ocurre y su postura ante este problema. Es uno de los pocos japoneses que ha ganado un Oscar de la Academia de Cine Norteamericana y el Oso de Oro en el Festival de Berlín. En su país es mucho más conocido que en Occidente, pero su obra es apreciada y, debido a la difusión que tiene, llega a muchos espectadores de todas las edades. Consciente o inconscientemente, su obra transmite respeto por la Naturaleza, cuidado para mantener el equilibrio entre los hombres y su entorno y otros muchos temas medioambientales.La cuestión que nos planteamos es la siguiente: Si Miyazaki refleja problemas medioambientales en su obra y vive en un país en concreto ¿se reflejan los problemas medioambientales de ese país, Japón, en sus películas?

Geological and Geomorphological Cartography at Scale 1: 10.000: a Tool of Management for Towns

Geological and geomorphological mapping at scale 1:10.000 besides from being an important source of scientific information it is also a necessary tool for municipal organs in order to make proper decisions when dealing with geo-environmental problems concerning integral territorial development. In this work, detailed information is given on the contents of such maps, their social and economical application, and a balance of the investment and gains that derives from them

Lectura ambiental de la cartografía geológica

Geological and geomorphological maps are, apart from a source of scientific information, a necessary tool in order to take proper decisions to solve the geo-environmental problems that arise when dealing with territorial planning. In this paper, the social and economical utility of such maps is described, and some exercises meant for Science of Earth and Environmental Sciences students are proposed

Estudi de la contaminació per nitrats a les aigües subterrànies de Catalunya: l'Alt Penedès, el Baix Camp, el Baix Empordà, el Baix Penedès, la Garrotxa, el Maresme, Osona, el Pla de l'Estany, la Segarra, el Segrià, el Tarragonès i l'Urgell

La contaminació per nitrats de les aigües subterrànies és un dels problemes mediambientals i de salut pública que més afecten els nostres aqüífers. És per això que un dels eixos del nostre estudi és fer la màxima difusió de l’estat de la qualitat de l’aigua dels aqüífers de diferents àrees de Catalunya. En el present estudi es tracta la contaminació per nitrats a les aigües de 945 punts de mostreig (sobretot d’aigua procedent de pous, d’algunes mines i d’algunes fonts) de Catalunya, situats en 12 comarques diferents, totes elles amb algun o una gran part dels seus municipis englobats en una zona vulnerable. D’aquests punts de mostreig s’ha fet un recull de dades de la concentració de nitrats des de l’any 2003 fins el 2012 per tal d’estudiar-ne l’evolució i la incidència de la pluviometria, així com conèixer en quines comarques les variables externes: superfície agrària útil (SAU), explotacions agràries i cabana porcina i bovina poden haver incidit directament en la contaminació. També s’estudia fins a quin punt, aquest deteriorament, ha afectat la mineralització de l’aigua o afecta a llocs d’aigües més mineralitzades. A partir dels resultats obtinguts s’ha arribat a les conclusions que la concentració mitjana de nitrats a les aigües subterrànies en la majoria de comarques estudiades és elevada, superior als 50 mg/l que estableix la normativa vigent; que ha tendit a l’estabilitat en els últims deu anys; que afecta llocs d’aigües molt mineralitzades i que la pluviometria incideix notablement en la concentració de nitrats. S’ha observat que les variables externes superfície agrària útil (SAU), explotacions agràries i cabana porcina i bovina incideixen directament en la contaminació, excepte al Maresme. Finalment es presenten diferents usos alternatius als de l’aigua de consum per aquestes aigües contaminades amb nitrats i que han posat en pràctica diferents municipis de les comarques estudiades.

Recursos litosféricos y medio ambiente

This paper focuses that geological resources is an essential need in the development of the society and specially of the developing countries. Taking into account the processes and environmental problems related to mining exploitation, these activities should be performed in a environment concordance. For these reason al1 the available environmental techniques and tools for a responsible exploitation of resources should be used.

Italy's urban waste metabolism

The problem of waste management is causing growing concern due to increasing generation rates, the emissions into soil, water and air, the social conflicts derived from the election of disposal sites and the loss of resources and energy among others. In this work, an innovative methodology is used to enable a better understanding of the waste generation and management system in Italy. Two new waste indicators are built to complement the conventional indicators used by official statistics. Then a multi-scale analysis of the Density of Waste Disposed (DWD) is carried out to highlight the territorial diversity of waste performances and test its contribution to detect plausible risky areas. Starting from Italian regions, the scale down goes on to the provincial level and, only for the region of Campania, the municipal one. First, the analysis shows that the DWD is able to complement the information provided by the conventional waste indicators. Second, the analysis shows the limitations of using a unique institutional solution to waste management problems. In this sense the multi-scale analysis provides with a more realistic picture of Italian waste system than using a single scale.

Newly described human polyomaviruses Merkel Cell, KI and WU are present in urban sewage and may represent potential environmental contaminants

Recently, three new polyomaviruses (KI, WU and Merkel cell polyomavirus) have been reported to infect humans. It has also been suggested that lymphotropic polyomavirus, a virus of simian origin, infects humans. KI and WU polyomaviruses have been detected mainly in specimens from the respiratory tract while Merkel cell polyomavirus has been described in a very high percentage of Merkel cell carcinomas. The distribution, excretion level and transmission routes of these viruses remain unknown. Here we analyzed the presence and characteristics of newly described human polyomaviruses in urban sewage and river water in order to assess the excretion level and the potential role of water as a route of transmission of these viruses. Nested-PCR assays were designed for the sensitive detection of the viruses studied and the amplicons obtained were confirmed by sequencing analysis. The viruses were concentrated following a methodology previously developed for the detection of JC and BK human polyomaviruses in environmental samples. JC polyomavirus and human adenoviruses were used as markers of human contamination in the samples. Merkel cell polyomavirus was detected in 7/8 urban sewage samples collected and in 2/7 river water samples. Also one urine sample from a pregnant woman, out of 4 samples analyzed, was positive for this virus. KI and WU polyomaviruses were identified in 1/8 and 2/8 sewage samples respectively. The viral strains detected were highly homologous with other strains reported from several other geographical areas. Lymphotropic polyomavirus was not detected in any of the 13 sewage neither in 9 biosolid/sludge samples analyzed. This is the first description of a virus isolated from sewage and river water with a strong association with cancer. Our data indicate that the Merkel cell polyomavirus is prevalent in the population and that it may be disseminated through the fecal/urine contamination of water. The procedure developed may constitute a useful tool for studying the excreted strains, prevalence and transmission of these recently described polyomaviruses.

The Appraisal of projects with environmental impacts. Efficiency and Sustainability

It is usually assumed that the appraisal of the impacts experienced by present generations does not entail any difficulty. However, this is not true. Moreover, there is not a widely accepted methodology for taking these impacts into account. Some of the controversial issues are: the appropriate value for the discount rate, the choice of the units for expressing the impacts, physical or monetary units -income, consumption or investment- and the valuation of tangible and intangible goods. When approaching the problem of very long term impacts, there is also the problem of valuing the impacts experienced by future generations, through e.g., the use of an intergenerational discount rate. However, if this were the case, the present generation perspective would prevail, as if all the property rights on the resources were owned by them. Therefore, the sustainability requirement should also be incorporated into the analysis. We will analyze these problems in this article and show some possible solutions.